Signal control apparatus



July 25, 1933. M. Q ARMSTRQNG 1,919,409

SIGNAL CONTROL APPARATUS Filed April 24, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 July 25, 1933- M. c. ARMSTRONG 1,919,409

S I GNAL C NTROL APPARATUS Filed April 24, 1928 2 Sheets-SheetI 2 J /I/Sz'refz INVENTOR ATTORN EY Patented `luly 25, 1933 fr orties MEBTON C. ARLISTRONG, OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO TEE STERLING SIREN FIRE ALARM COMPANY NEW YORK rnc., or aoonns'rna, new YORK, A AoonronA'rIoLu 0F SGNAL OONTROL'-APRATUS Application filed April 24, 1928. Serial No. 272,520.

The present invention, while not limited in its use to any particular apparatus or type of apparatus, is especially adaptable for the control of signaling devices such for example as code signaling sirens. n

@ne of the objects of the invention is to provid-e means whereby high speedre-gister, that is, one adapted for receiving impulses from an alarm box at approximately one second intervals and registering them on the tape in lilre periods of time, may be employed for controlling the operation of a code siren which will give a complete blast for each perforation registered in the tape but which requires several seconds for the completion of the blast. Thus, a signal may be received at a fire station from a certain box and the apparatus be on its way to the fire before the complete signal from the siren has been given. y

Another object of the invention is to employ two tapes on a register, both of which are similarly and simultaneously punched, one of the tapes from a point beyond the perforating mechanism travelling faster than the other and affording a visual indication of the box number registered, lwhile the other slower moving tape comprises means for contr lling the make and break of an electric circuit for controlling the operation of a siren or other device. A

A further object of the invention is to provide cooperating members for making electrical contact through the perforations in a tape, and adapted to ride on the tape between succeedin(T erforations which will func-y tion without tearing or otherwise mutilating the tape or interfering with it-s travel.

And, a further obj-ect of the invention is to accomplish the purposes thereof without having to alter the construction or operation of the register mechanism.

To these and other ends, the invention consists of certain parts and combinations of parts as will be fully set forth in the following description and particularly defined in the appended claims. Y

The accompanying `drawings illustra-ting the invention are as follows:

Fig. 1 is a view in side elevation of a punch tape register as embodied in the invention;

Fig. 2shows in plan view a strip of tape as perforated by the register Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view, as along the longitudinal center of the-feed table, of a portion of the register and the mecha nism associated therewith for the r-emote control of an electrically operated device such as a code blowing siren;

l is a top plan view of the parts seen in Fig;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional detail as on the line 5 5, Fig. 4l; i Y

Fig. 6 is a detail in perspective of the takeup block seen in Figs. 1 and 3 Y Fig. 7 is a fragmentary view similar to Fig. 1, showing the contact and slackl takeup arranged closer to the feed rollers of the register; and

Fig. Sshows in vertical section a modied construction of the sliding bearing block.

In the drawings similar reference numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

The punch tape register and its associated takeup reel are of well known construction and operation and for that reason are shown only in outline and `with such working parts as enter directly into the present invention, such register preferably being one of the type disclosed in U. S.. Patent No. 691,587. The register is indicated at 1 and includes on the exterior of the casing a reel 2 from which' the tape 3 is unwound by means of a feed wheel t and roller platen 5, the first named being operated by spring motor mechanism within the casing, the motor being released by suitable means, not shown, such as an electromagnet under the control of the code wheel of a lire alarm box. y

`From the reel 2 the tape 3 passes under a tension roller 9, through a slot 10 in aV guide part 11 in which a punch 12 operates to perforate the tape', thence between. the feed rollers Ll, 5, over a table or shelf 13, under a guide roller 14 and is wound on aV reel lniounted upon a casing l'which encloses spring motor mechanism for winding up the tape.

The punch 12 is reciprocated by means Vof a cam 17 on a shaft 18 which is to be-controlled by an electromagnet of a fire alarm box, not shown. Thus, the number of the box from which an alarm is sent is registered, preferably a plurality of times, by a series of perforations in the tape 3, this number being readable as the tape passes from the table 13 to the reel 15 of the takeup mechanism, the roll of -punched tape being kept for matters of record.

Vf ith 4the present mechanism two tapes are wound on the supply reel 2 and are fed by the rollers 4 and 5 'over the table 13 and simultaneously perforated by the punch 12. The purpose of the second tape, indicated 19. is Lo controi the actuation of an electri cal contact which in turn controls the circuit for starting and stopping the siren, not shown, and causing it to blow the code number registered on the tape.

To enable the siren to give a complete blast for each perforation in the tape, and as such perforations are spaced but short distances apart, it is necessary that the speed of the tape 19 be retarded, after it leaves the feed wheels 4, 5, with respect to that of the tape 3 which, preferably, is not changed. To this end a second takeup reel 20 is provided for the tape 19 and controlled by spring motor mechanism of known construction and indicated by the `numeral 92 within the casing 21 upon which the reel is mounted, the two reels 15 and 2O being arranged in the same vertical plane with that of the table 13 and reel 2. The motor mechanism for the reel 2O is, in this instance, provided with a governor 93 for regulating and predetermining the speed of the tape 19. Driven by such mechanism 92 is a feed wheel 42L which, cooperating with a roller platen 5, assures f, constant feeding of the tape at a predetermined speed, irrespective `of the changing diameter of the tape on the reel 20, and intermediate the hereinabove mentioned electrical contact and the feed rollers 4, 5, provision is made for taking uputhe slack in the slower moving tape.

The auxiliary mechanism to the punch tape register consists, in this instance, of a frame part comprising yan open top box 22 in the side walls of which are vertically arranged slots 23 for receiving" and guiding bearing blocks 24 which carry a shaft 25 on which a roller 26 is mounted. This roller 26 is intermediate twonrollers 27 and 28 mounted in the upper part of the frame with their tops substantially tangential withthe plane of the table 13, the tape 19 passing over the rollers 2'4" and 2Sand under the roller 26, the latter, as will readily be observed, functioning to take up the slack in the tape.

From the roller 23 the tape is drawn under a plate 29 and over another roller 30 in the plane of the rollers 27 and 28, and from the roller 30 the vtape passes under a guide roller 94 on the frame 21 to the second feed rollers 4a, 5, and thence under a tension arm 31 to the reel 20. The arm 31 and a similar one 31a for the tape 3 act as bra-kes for automatically stopping their respective takeup motors should the tapes break. The plate 29 is an electrical contact member and connected thereto by means of a bindingpost 32 is a conductor wire 33 adapted for connection with electrical apparatus, not shown, for controlling the siren. This plateV is mounted upon arms 34 carried by the frame part 22, and interposed between it andthe supporting arms is a plate 29a of insulating material which with the plate 29 forms a slot for the passage of the tape, the latter being held taut and against the contact plate. Beneath the plate and secured to the frame 22 by screws 35 is a block 36 of insulating material having a vertically arranged bore 37 in which is fitted a sleeve 37EL formed at its outer end lto retain a ball 39 which normally rides on the tape 19, the latter being an insulating medium between the ball and the plate 29, but engages through the perforations for Contact with the plate and thus closes an electric circuit for controlling the sound blasts of the siren. The ball contact 39 is supportedupon the end of a yieldable mem- .ber comprising a plunger 38 having a. shoulder 41 between which and a screw plug 42 at the opposite end of the bore is a coiled spring 40. This spring actuated plunger is in electrical Contact with the ball 39 and connected thereto is a conductor wire 43, the wires 33 and 43 being provided for connection with suitable electrical apparatus for controlling the siren, not shown.

From the foregoing it will be observed that as the tapes 3 and 19 are unwound from the reel 2 by means of the feed rollers 4, 5, both are simultaneously perforated as illustrated in Fig. 2, which indicates registration for an alarm corresponding to box No. 32 notshown; that the tape 3 is found on the takeup reel 15, sufiicient space being allowed between the latter and the table 13 to permit the registrations to be read during movement of the tape; that the tape 19 is likewise wound on a takeup reel 20 but at a slower speed; that such tape 19 is an insulating medium between two relativeiy movable spring contact members that make contact through succeeding perforations in the tape; and, that means is provided intermediate the said contact'members and the feed rollers for taking up the slack in the tape 19.

From the foregoing it will be understood that the siren may be cont-rolled by the tape of a high speed punch tape register, for this purpose the register preferably having two tapes', one of which is fed in the usual manner and at the usual speed, and which is in position so that the registrations therein may be readily seen, while the other tape is, from a point beyond the perforating mechanism,

caused to travel at a slower speed and as each perforation therein reaches an electric contact in the path of the tape, and WhichY nism of the contact members 29, 39 and the takeup for the slack in the tape Would be built onto the side of the register in proximity to the feed Wheel 4:, this Wheel having Washers 91 each side thereof but slightly less in diameter than the toothed Wheel 4 and permitting the Wheel to act both as a feed Wheel and a guide roller in place of the roller 28. Also, as shown in Fig. 8, the bearing blocks 24 may be provided with rollers 95 arranged to engage the Walls of the slots 23 and prevent any tendency of the block to bind. The current passing through contacts 29 and 39 When operating the mechanism, Will be of loiv voltage and Will permit of the use of ordinary tape paper for the tape 19 Without the paper being torn or burned. 1f desired, however, a tape 19 of any other material, preferably noninflammable, may be used.

1n the operation of the present mechanism, the spring motor of the punch tape register which may be electrically connected With the code signaling means in the usual or any preferred manner, is automatically released upon opera-ting said signaling means whereby the register will operate to both punch and advance the tape. At the same time, the tapes 3 and 19 are Wound upon their respective take-up reels 15 and 20 which are driven by the spring motors thereof as previously described. rlhe tape 3 which is advanced at a faster rate than that of the tape 19 affords a visual indication of the signals sent from the fire box or other signaling means While the tape 19 through the perforations therein controls the circuits of the electrical apparatus for controlling the operation of the sirens, it being understood that the make and break of the circuit is afforded by the contacting of the ball 39 with the plate 29 through the perforations in the tape 19, as previously described.

What I. claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. 1n combination, a punchl tape register including a punching element, a plurality of tapes, means for simultaneously feeding the tapes .through the register in superimposed relation, an independent motor driven takeup for each of said tapes, means for `regulating the speed of one of the take-ups so that the feed of its tape is retarded after passing said feeding means, electric circuit` controlling contacts normally held open by the retarded tape and adapted to contact one with another through the successive perforations in the retarded tape and means intermediate said contacts and said feeding means for take ing up slack in the retarded tape.

2. 1n combination, a punch tape register including a punch and reel, a plurality of tapes on said reel, means for simultaneously feeding the tapes through the register, the punch operating during the feed of the tapes to successively produce perforations in each of the tapes, a take-up for one of the tapes7 means for r-etarding the feed of said last mentione d tape after its passage through the feeding means, said retarding means comprising a spe-ed regulator on the tape take-upelectric circuit contacts normally held open by said retarded tape and adapted to contact one With another through the successive 1 erforations in the retarded tape, and means intermediate said contacts andy said feeding means for taking up slack in the last mentioned tape.

3. In combination, a punch tape register including a punch and reel, a tape on said reel, a guide for the tape, means for feeding the tape, a take-up reel for the tape, a motor for Winding` the reel, second tape, said tapes being sinniltaneously fed through said guide means by said feeding means, said punch operating during operation of the register to produce successive perforations in said tapes, a separate take-up for said second tape including` a reel, a motor for operating the last mentioned reel, means for retarding the speed of the last mentioned motor, electric circuit contacts normally held open by said second tape adapted to contact one With another through the successive' perforations in said second tap-e during` advancement thereof, and c means intermediate said contacts and said feeding means for taking up slack in the sec# ond tape.

MERTON C. ARMSTRONG. 

